Political Breakdown

Scott and Marisa discuss Governor Gavin Newsom's plan to reform San Quentin State Prison — and Scott shares what inmates are saying about it. Then, Los Angeles Times reporter Mackenzie Mays joins to discuss school board fights in Southern California that have caught the attention of Newsom and other state officials. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott discuss the ongoing feud between the Temecula Valley Unified school board and Governor Gavin Newsom, after the board rejected instructional material referencing Harvey Milk. Then, tech executive and U.S. Senate candidate Lexi Reese joins to discuss her family's economic turmoil, her siblings' battles with addiction, what separates her from other Democrats in the race, how the Senate should regulate artificial intelligence and whether Congress should adopt Gusto's no-shoes policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa talk to Megan Cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle crime reporter, and Gabrielle Lurie, San Francisco Chronicle staff photographer, about their investigation into Honduran migrants selling drugs in San Francisco. They talk about the genesis and findings of the investigation, respond to criticisms of their story and analyze the political fallout in San Francisco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the second part of their conversation at KQED Live, Scott and Marisa talk to former Assembly Speaker and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown about his unorthodox strategy for winning an Assembly seat, what he learned from Jesse Unruh, forging bonds with San Francisco's LGBTQ community and his years in the crosshairs of the FBI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court strikes down affirmative action in college admissions. Hours later, a California task force studying reparations for African-Americans delivers a groundbreaking final report. Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the political crosscurrents at play with Stephen Menendian, the Assistant Director and Director of Research at the Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley. Plus, Alexei Koseff, State Capitol Reporter at CalMatters joins to discuss the final state budget deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony Rendon will soon step down as Assembly Speaker after the second-longest tenure in California history. Marisa and Guy Marzorati talk to Rendon about fatherhood and child care, the legislature's historic 2017 session, losing his speakership to Robert Rivas and his plans for the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss the legislature's budget agreement and Governor Gavin Newsom's interview with Sean Hannity. Then, Assemblywoman Liz Ortega joins to talk about her journey to America, interpreting for family members and neighbors as a kid, her career in organized labor, her reaction to the budget deal to aid public transit and her thoughts on labor disputes over CEQA and housing. PLUS: Take our Political Breakdown newsletter survey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Guy Marzorati react to Governor Gavin Newsom's proposal for a 28th amendment on gun safety and talk to KQED politics editor Tyche Hendricks about the political and legal fallout from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' flights carrying migrants to California. Then, Marlene Sanchez, executive director of the Ella Baker Center, joins to talk about getting arrested at age 11, her work bringing the voices of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated Californians to the halls of power, her views on the appropriate policy response to the fentanyl crisis and her support of Senate Bill 94, a controversial bill to allow the review of some older life sentences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss how the deal to raise the federal debt limit divided California House Democrats, with implications for the 2024 U.S. Senate race. Then, Annie Fryman, Director of Special Projects at SPUR joins to discuss her work with State Senator Scott Wiener crafting landmark changes to California housing law. She also lays out the stakes for California transit agencies in the ongoing negotiations over the state budget. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the first part of a conversation at KQED Live, Scott and Marisa talk to former Assembly Speaker and San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown about his childhood in Texas, the unlikely clients who propelled his early law career and how he met Dianne Feinstein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Then, veteran political strategist Dane Strother joins to discuss his father's role in inventing modern political consulting, what ended his career in journalism, the use of artificial intelligence in campaigns, his firm's recent campaign victories in Wisconsin and why he thinks Gavin Newsom is "the most adroit politician in America." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa talk Sen. Dianne Feinstein's return to D.C. and Gov. Gavin Newsom's upcoming May budget proposal, which is expected to feature an ever-growing deficit. Then, former California chief justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye joins the show to talk about her new role as president and CEO of the Public Policy Institue of California, her legacy on the bench, and weighs in on the recent Supreme Court ethics scandal as reporting shows Justice Clarence Thomas accepting lavish gifts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa sit down with Robert Rivas, the incoming Speaker of the state Assembly, to discuss his grandfather's farmworker activism, politics in San Benito County, the legislature's response to the fentanyl crisis, his priorities as Assembly speaker and how he will address concerns about conflicts with his brother's political work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa talk about the booming business of massive warehouses sprouting up in Riverside as lawmakers seek to curb their climate impacts on neighbors, and President Joe Biden's 2024 re-election bid. Then, abortion historian and UC Davis School of Law professor Mary Ziegler joins the show to discuss how early concepts of "fetal personhood" influenced decades of arguments from abortion access opponents, and the future of the abortion pill Mifepristone, which is facing a legal threat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa talk about Gov. Gavin Newsom's surprise visit to San Francisco's beleaguered Tenderloin neighborhood and what the state is doing to tackle the fentanyl crisis, as well as the struggle for abortion rights nationally and how that's impacting the GOP's strategy. Then, decades-long California political strategist Bill Wong talks about retirement and his new book "Better to Win," reflecting on what qualities make a strong leader, how Asian American Pacific Islanders fought open bigotry to ascend into state leadership, and how those AAPI leaders, in turn, helped their communities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa discuss the latest calls for Senator Dianne Feinstein to resign and her call for a temporary replacement on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Then, BART Board Director Lateefah Simon joins to discuss growing up in San Francisco, her early work with Kamala Harris, facing threats in office and her run for Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa discuss Governor Gavin Newsom's trip through southern states and some big fundraising totals in California's U.S. Senate race. Then, longtime political consultant Gale Kaufman joins to discuss her early interactions with Harvey Milk, learning from Willie Brown, her breakthrough campaigns in support of California unions and what she'd change about the state's system of direct democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Guy Marzorati discuss the oil pricing reforms signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and the conspiracy-driven changes to voting in one California county. Then, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes joins to share why she voted for the oil bill, her unlikely election to the state legislature, chairing the California Latino Legislative Caucus in its 50th year and raising triplets with her wife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hours after the state Assembly passed Gov. Gavin Newsom's legislation to create new oversight for the oil industry, Scott and Marisa discuss the proposal and its evolution since last fall. They also chew over this week's Los Angeles school strike -- and what it means for new L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Then, California Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jennifer Barrera joins to offer the industry take on the oil legislation, and talk about the business climate here in California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa discuss the fallout from the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Governor Gavin Newsom's tour of California in lieu of a traditional State of the State speech. Then, they sit down with San Francisco Assemblyman Matt Haney to discuss his Bay Area upbringing, time on the San Francisco school board and what he's working on as he embarks on his first full term in Sacramento. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott talk with CalMatters reporter Ben Christopher about his reporting on families ties in the state capitol and the special session on oil prices in the legislature. Then, state Assemblyman Rick Zbur joins to talk about his childhood on a New Mexico farm, his breakout fundraiser for Barbara Boxer, the state of LGBTQ candidates in California and what inspired him to run for the Assembly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa discuss new polling on Californians views of gun violence and how the 2024 Senate race is shaping the state's congressional playing field. Then, Dr. Mark Ghaly, Secretary of the California Health & Human Services Agency, joins to share his thoughts on the end of the COVID-19 state of emergency, what drew him to medicine, reflections on the state's response to the pandemic and the implementation of CARE Court reforms to mental health care. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott discuss a new poll on California's U.S. Senate race from the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies and what they learned from the first hearing of the legislature's special session on oil prices. Then, Teresa Romero, president of United Farm Workers, joins to discuss her childhood in Mexico, her journey into union leadership, the future of the UFW and her reaction to the mass shooting of farmworkers in Half Moon Bay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa talk about the controversial firing of Oakland's police chief before reflecting on the career of Senator Dianne Feinstein, who announced this week that she won't be running for another term in 2024. And Shira Stein, Washington correspondent for the San Francisco Chronicle, joins to discuss reaction to Feinstein's retirement in D.C. and Feinstein's legacy on gun control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott discuss the Californians at the center of Joe Biden's State of the Union and the latest referendum to qualify for the 2024 ballot. Then, Assemblyman Joaquin Arambula joins to talk about his family's journey to California, watching his father's career in politics, his career as an emergency room doctor and his bid to be Speaker of the state Assembly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa discuss the latest endorsement news in California's U.S. Senate race and Governor Gavin Newsom's spat with Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp. Then, California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher joins to talk about farmworker living conditions in the wake of the Half Moon Bay shootings, the referendum challenging California's new fast-food labor law and the speakership transition in the Assembly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott discuss the political reaction to the mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay and the latest entrant into California's 2024 Senate race: Congressman Adam Schiff. Then, new Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price joins to talk about her childhood in foster care and the juvenile justice system, her activism in the civil rights movement and Yale, her career as a civil rights lawyer and her early moves as Alameda County's top prosecutor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa take an early look at California's burgeoning race for U.S. Senate with Debbie Mesloh, longtime advisor to Kamala Harris, and Joe Garofoli, Senior Political Writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. They discuss what's ahead for Senator Dianne Feinstein, what's needed to launch a statewide campaign and the outlook for Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, Adam Schiff and Ro Khanna. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Guy Marzorati analyze the early field in California's 2024 U.S. Senate race and discuss Gov. Gavin Newsom's budget proposal. Then, Solano County Assemblywoman Lori Wilson joins to talk about the turmoil in her childhood, the role of faith in her life, parenting a transgender child and what Newsom's special session targeting oil prices means for the refinery community in her district. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott discuss Bakersfield Congressman Kevin McCarthy's quixotic quest of the House speakership. Then, Dana Williamson, Governor Gavin Newsom's new chief of staff discusses her return to the "horseshoe," what to expect from Newsom's inauguration, the special legislative session on gas prices and how a potential budget shortfall could affect the governor's agenda. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott preview the year ahead in California politics, including oil policy at the capitol, new progressive prosecutors, housing fights and a brewing U.S. Senate race. Then, they revisit their conversation with Oakland's new mayor Sheng Thao. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congresswoman Jackie Speier joins Scott and Marisa to talk about the end of her final session in the House, her work combatting sexual violence in the military, how personal trauma has shaped her political career, the promise to her husband that led to her retirement and the foundation she is launching in San Mateo County. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola made history when she won election to the House this year, becoming the state's first Alaska Native representative. Peltola talks to Marisa and Scott about her childhood and Yup’ik heritage, the dynamics of Alaska politics, her relationship with Sarah Palin and the future of rural Democrats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott discuss Governor Gavin Newsom's legislation targeting oil companies and what Congress' passage of the Respect for Marriage Act means for Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Then, Oakland Mayor-Elect Sheng Thao joins to discuss her family's journey from Laos, experiencing homelessness and living in "survival mode," the internship at Oakland city hall that changed her life, and how she'll deal with public safety, homelessness and the Oakland A's. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa discuss the upcoming Senate runoff in Georgia with Jessica Taylor, Senate and Governors Editor for the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter and Rahul Bali, political reporter with WABE. Then, Marc Sandalow with the University of California's Washington Center joins to talk about Nancy Pelosi's legacy, the new faces in House Democratic leadership and the challenges ahead for Kevin McCarthy's potential speakership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa discuss San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins' first few months in office and her election victory. Then, they revisit their July conversation with Jenkins, who talked about the loss of her son, her path to becoming the city's top prosecutor and her vision for the office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Guy Marzorati react to Nancy Pelosi's announcement that she will not remain in House leadership, before recapping some of the latest results from around the state. Then, Hayward city councilmember Aisha Wahab discuss her historic victory in a race for state senate, her journey through foster care and the small business perspective she hopes to bring to Sacramento. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa discuss the midterm results in California: from tight House races to statewide offices and propositions. Then, Democratic congressional candidate Will Rollins joins to talk about waiting for results in his deadlocked race with incumbent Ken Calvert, his career in counterterrorism and how redistricting reshaped his run for Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott discuss the spread of falsehoods about the Paul Pelosi attack and prebunking disinformation with NPR correspondent Shannon Bond, before looking ahead to the races for mayor and sheriff in Los Angeles with Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa recap their experience moderating California's only gubernatorial debate of the 2022 election and discuss the results of the latest polling on Proposition 30. Then, longtime California political consultant Garry South joins to share his thoughts on the debate and the future political prospects of Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris, the Los Angeles mayoral election and how he got the nickname "the Mouth." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa revisit parts of their October 5 conversation with San Francisco Mayor London Breed at KQED Live. Breed discusses her tenure as mayor and the criticism she faced for asking some appointees to sign undated letters of resignation. Breed also made controversial comments about Hondurans and drug dealing, which she apologized for on Thursday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott hit the road to spend time in two of the most competitive congressional districts in California. Scott heads to Riverside County to interview Will Rollins, the Democrat taking on incumbent Republican Ken Calvert in the 41st district. And Marisa talks to Rudy Salas, the Democratic Assemblyman running for Congress against Republican David Valadao in the 22nd district. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa preview their upcoming governor's debate and discuss why expensive campaigns to legalize sports betting are falling flat with California voters. Then, Congressman Mike Garcia joins to talk about his childhood and what inspired him to serve as a Navy pilot, his pitch to Biden opponents who disagree with his stance on abortion and why he voted against certifying the electoral votes of Arizona and Pennsylvania on January 6. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott sit down with attorney Nathan Hochman, a Republican running for Attorney General against incumbent Rob Bonta. Hochman shares his campaign slogan for high school class president, how he'll pursue the "hard middle" on criminal justice policy, his views on Propositions 47 and 57, his thoughts on Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva, and how he will tackle the state's fentanyl crisis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott and Marisa are joined by Attorney General Rob Bonta, who discusses his new initiative to reduce gun violence and how the state is preparing for the potential arrival of migrants from red states. Bonta also shares his vision for public safety in California, and how his background has shaped his views on a controversial farm worker unionization bill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Scott discuss how key state ballot measures are fairing in a new poll from the Public Policy Institute of California. Then, State Senator Brian Dahle joins to talk about his family's farming history, his run for governor and what it's like being married to a fellow state legislator, Megan Dahle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Scott and Marisa talk about the rolling blackouts that didn't happen, and why -- despite that political win -- Governor Gavin Newsom seems grumpy this week. Then, they're joined by NPR White House Correspondent Tamara Keith (a former KQED reporter!) to talk about Biden's recent speech, the midterm elections and her new children's book, "Claire and the Eager Speaker." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marisa and Guy Marzorati head to Sacramento to recap the end of the legislative session with POLITICO's Lara Korte, including Governor Gavin Newsom's climate agenda and the deal to extend the life of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. Then, Jessica Morse, Deputy Secretary for Forest and Wildland Resilience at the California Natural Resources Agency, joins to discuss the wildfire threat from the state's heat wave, her family's history in California, her time in Iraq and run for Congress in 2018, and the administration's plan for wildfire resilience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S Senator Alex Padilla joins Marisa and Guy Marzorati to talk about the federal response to the Monkeypox outbreak and President Biden's forgiveness of student loan debt. They also discuss water shortages on the Colorado River, working with Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, the midterms and Padilla's adjustment to a cross-country commute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With two weeks left in the legislative session, Marisa and Guy Marzorati discuss two of the most controversial bills in the state capitol. First, KQED Labor Correspondent Farida Jhabvala-Romero joins to talk about the changes to the fast food industry proposed in Assembly Bill 257 and Jason Elliot, Senior Counselor to Governor Gavin Newsom on housing and homelessness, discusses the administration's CARE Court proposal (Senate Bill 1338) for Californians with severe mental illness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices